The Retaking of Forgehold - 4E

[Charwoman Gene]

You are riding at the head of the caravan. The lead wagon comes to the top of a rise and you see Forgehold for the first time.

Forgehold is an amazing sight, but a tinge of sadness cuts through it. In it's glory, a grand marble wall encircled a bustling metropolis surrounded by well tended farming communities. A tremendous statue of a Dwarf cut out of the huge mountain backdrop should complete the grandeur, but fallen limbs and a distorted visage mar the statue.

The caravan travels off the main road and through a new trail cutting through what looks like farmland left to rot over a century. The path shifts closer and closer to the river and it pulls up to the new-constructed wooden palisade. You see the ramshackle roofs of a very hastily constructed town poking up over the wall.

OOC: I will be posting the "through the gates" stuff soon.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

I suppose good taste isn'ta requirement for warriors.... comments Arden sadly....

-''Yeah, we gave up on that a long time ago, eh?'' he winked in self derision.

Later, Mal chuckles as he gets in sight of the statue that watches over Forgehold.

-''Look, it's a giant statue of a dwarf. Think about it!''

 

[Charwoman Gene]

As you travel through the recently rebuilt gates you see something would best be described as a very ambitious shantytown. Hastily constructed wooden and brick building, some shoddy stonework. People look ill or just worn down by poor luck in life. This is not a happy town. The caravan breaks apart busily, all the merchants having their own agendas, and the half-elf Mirten approaches you. "I have these for you," he says, handing out 2 small sealed scrolls. "They are your invitations to the House of Deluna and the House of Verhaun. Most of the major missions go through them. Dagrin and I will be going back on the caravan run, but don't delay in seeing the factors of the houses, they don't like delays."

[sblock=quest]Minor Quest - become officially attached to the House of Deluna as an authorized agent. 100 xp.
Minor Quest - become officially attached to the House of Deluna as an authorized agent. 100 xp.
Minor Quest - Through Improv and free ranging through the city help your DM invent an even more personalized mission source. 200xp[/sblock]

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

-''Do you think that these houses are real blue bloods?'' Mal asks worriedly.

-''I hate ancient bloodlines. They always feel that people like us are expendable. Still, they have the gold... Let's ask around to see which houses treat its employees the best and we will see that one first.''

[sblock=ooc]And when Mal says 'let's ask around', it means someone better do it for him because with Streetwise +0, nothing good can come of it...

Alternatively, I bet that with a good History check, Arden already knows much about these two families and which is the best to focus on.
[/sblock]

 

[Atanatotatos]

At Mal's remark on ancient bloodlines, Arden gives a skeptical look. His family was traced back till 13 generations before...
Anyway, he commented: It has been a while since I've had the desire to look for a fellow student of the arcane... But I agree that finding contacts on the place is a more utgent matter....

[sblock=mal and dm]Heh, I can't help with Streetwise... but history seems a better bet...let's try the invisible castle
I made two rolls in case you want one for each house, Gene. Otherwise it's the first one[/sblock]

Historyy: 28, 23

 

[Velmont]

"Sounds good to me" agree Aelek with Mal. "I'll go asks around... and Mal, stay not too far, I know people might become nervous around me."

[SBLOCK=OOC]Streetwise (1d20+10=19) [/SBLOCK]

 

[Charwoman Gene]

OOC: Streetwise
Deluna is very selective on who it lets work for them. The are secretive and subtle. They are less involved with the mundane and seem to be attracted to higher end trade.
The house of Verhaun is very aggressive in it's dealings. It is rumored to be involved with somewhat shady deals. Generally has good rewards but they often understate the risk of their missions.
You also learn of the locations of the factors of both Houses, whom you would likely contact to begin negotiating with.

OOC: History
The House of Deluna is an old Noble family scattered throughout the old cities of the Western League. The ir power before the recent collapses was legendary, and they have taken to the prosaic act of Merchant Routes to refill their coffers. Anwyn Deluna, eldest daughter of the houses Matriarch is in charge of the Forgehold Operation which is a city they had an ancient presence in.
The Merchant House of Verhaun was established about 20 years ago in the city of Redbluff. Doing business in local trade, mostly contracting out work from Merchant ships. One of the younger sons of the family's aging scion, Kelnor Verhaun, has established the Forgehold operation as a way of gaining family influence for himself.

 

[Atanatotatos]

From my knowledge, there is no space for doubt. We have to contact House Deluna: Its ancient heritage and great history deserve trust. As opposed to the scoundrels of Verhaun...

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

-''Verhaun pays better! And they aren't stuffy scions of old legacies. They're self-made, dynamic and on the rise. Deluna is the past.''

 

[Atanatotatos]

After the usual skeptical look, Arden answers: Please think twice, sir Malenkirk. A family like the Deluna has ties that go far beyond this city in ruin. They may not be in the best moment of their long history, but it definitely would not hurt to have them as patrons. Centuries of history have given them great influence in many paces of the world...